5 Greek Appetizer Recipes For Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving isn’t just about turkey, so here are 5 Greek appetizer recipes for thanksgiving that can really be an asset to your thanksgiving spread. Thanksgiving usually conjures up ideas of turkey, corn, yams and cranberry sauce, but in Greek households across America, the thanksgiving table is quite different.

1. Pastitsio

Pastitsio is a traditional Greek baked pasta dish. The pasta is baked with meat (usually ground beef) and topped with béchamel sauce. The word ‘pastitsio’ translates to ‘hodgepodge’.

Ingredients:

For pastitsio

½ cup olive oil

salt, pepper to taste

3 tsp breadcrumbs

1 diced onion

4 egg whites (keep yolks for béchamel)

1 cup white wine

14 oz tomato puree

3 tsp allspice

½ cup butter

500g penne pasta

1½ cups grated parmesan

Béchamel

1 cup butter

1 quart milk (warm)

8 egg yolks

1 cup flour

ground nutmeg

In a pan, brown ground beef in olive oil on high heat for five minutes.

It’s highly unlikely that the pilgrims shared this food during their traditional November feast. Nevertheless, dolmathakia are standard fare on Greek thanksgiving tables. This is a dish of grape leaves stuffed with herbs, pine nuts and rice. It is usually served cold.

Place rolls in saucepan, pour remaining olive oil into pan and cover rolls with water.

Bring to boil. Simmer for 45 minutes.

3. Tiropites

This delicious appetizer is made from phyllo pastry stuffed with cheese and folded into triangles. It is so popular in Greek households that many Greek children do not realize it is not standard thanksgiving food.

Ingredients:

1 lb. Feta

16 oz Ricotta

1 oz bleu cheese

5 tsp. grated parmesan

5 eggs

4 oz cream cheese

1 – 2 lb. phyllo pastry sheets

Mix all cheeses well.

Add eggs and stir until combined.

Place tablespoon of filling onto pastry, fold into triangle.

Bake at 350 F for fifteen minutes.

4. Spanakopita

Spanakopita is a spinach pie with feta cheese. This recipe again calls for phyllo pastry and feta cheese. Because this dish freezes and reheats very easily it is very often made before thanksgiving and frozen to ease preparations on the big day.

Ingredients:

1lb. phyllo pastry

2 bunches diced green onions

½ cup olive oil

¼ cup butter

4 eggs

½ cup parsley

½ cup dill

½ lb ricotta

2.5 lbs chopped spinach

¼ tsp. nutmeg

½ lb feta

4 diced onions

Saute onions and green onions.

Add spinach, dill and parlsey.

Cook ten minutes until spinach has wilted.

Add nutmeg. Set aside.

Mix all cheeses.

Add spinach mixture then combine.

Place filling between two layers of phyllo pastry

Bake at 350 F for twenty minutes.

5. Saganaki

Saganaki is an all time Greek classic that can't be missed on any Greek table. It is named after the traditional Greek pan that is used to prepare the dish.